It was announced today by the Golden State Warriors that their former Center, Nate Thurmond died at the age of 74 after a bout with leukemia.

Thurmond, a member of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players list, played collegiately at Bowling Green before being drafted third overall in 1963 by the Warriors. Thurmond was an All Star by his sophomore season and made the mid-season festivity seven times. Thurmond was not known for his offense, a little surprising considering he exceeded 20 Points per Game per season. Rather, he was known for his rebounding prowess finishing in the top five in boards per game six times.

Thurmond would be traded to the Chicago Bulls however thirteen games later he would be moved to the Cleveland Cavaliers, close to his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The big man was a vital part of the Cavs miracle run to the Eastern Championship.

His number would be retired by both the Warriors and the Cavaliers.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the friends and family of Nate Thurmond at this time.

Tim Hardaway was the catalyst of the famed Run TMC (with Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond) for the Golden State Warriors that took the NBA by storm in the early 90s. Hardaway was a point guard who set the running style of the Warriors in motion. When traded to Miami in 96, Hardaway teamed with Alonzo Mourning to make the Heat title contenders. Hardaway was also a great perimeter shooter who opponents could not leave open and he became the undisputed master of the crossover dribble with his mad dashes to the basket. A 5 time All-Star and 5 time All NBA performer, Hardaway definitely has the credentials statistically with over 15,000 points and 7,000 assists. Best remembered for his ability to get to the hoop and then dish, Hardaway is one of the best pure point guards in league history and arguably the best at his position not in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Bridges was an undersized power forward who had a long lasting career in the NBA due to his abilities to play defense and especially to rebound. Currently in the top 30 in all time rebounds in league history, Bridges made 3 all-star teams and averaged 11.9 points and rebounds throughout a very consistent career. He won his only title in 1975 with the Warriors and then did something that not many have had a chance to do. He retired as a champion.

Probably better known for his antics off the court (choking a coach and his complete inability to manage his finances), Latrell Sprewell was a very good basketball player in his prime. A very good two way player, the Shooting Guard constantly improved during his tenure in Golden State, which was until the famed incident with P.J. Carlesimo. He did rebound in New York and made his fourth All Star game, but degenerated upon arriving to Milwaukee and returned to being a pariah to the fans. Had Latrell Sprewell ever lived up to his full potential he may have been a fringe candidate for the Hall, but the odds of them touching ‘Spree’ seems distant right now.